California Edges Miami 98-94 in Overtime Thriller Behind Career Night from Jeremiah Wilkinson

In an electrifying ACC matchup on Saturday night, the California Golden Bears defeated the Miami Hurricanes 98-94 in overtime, thanks to career and season-best performances from Jeremiah Wilkinson and DJ Campbell. The Golden Bears (11-9, 4-5 ACC) secured their third consecutive win, while Miami (4-16, 0-9 ACC) continued their struggles, extending their losing streak to nine games.

Jeremiah Wilkinson led the way for Cal, scoring a career-high 30 points on 10-of-22 shooting from the floor and a near-perfect 9-of-10 from the free-throw line, though he struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 1-of-10 attempts. Campbell contributed a season-high 22 points, shooting 6-of-12 from the field and a strong 9-of-11 from the charity stripe. The Golden Bears shot 49% from the field (31-of-63) and capitalized on their free throws, converting 75% (27-of-36).

The game was a battle from start to finish, with Miami refusing to go down without a fight. With just 4.6 seconds left in regulation, Hurricanes forward Matthew Cleveland delivered a dramatic moment, hitting a contested three-pointer with one second remaining to tie the game at 79-all and force overtime. Cleveland finished with 30 points and eight rebounds, leading Miami’s valiant effort.

In overtime, the Golden Bears took control with a decisive 9-2 run fueled by Campbell, who scored six points during the surge to put Cal up 88-81. The Bears extended their lead to 94-86 with just 24 seconds remaining, seemingly putting the game out of reach. However, Miami’s A.J. Staton-McCray hit back-to-back three-pointers to cut the deficit to 95-92, keeping the Hurricanes alive. Cal ultimately sealed the win at the foul line in the final seconds.

Brandon Johnson added 16 points and eight rebounds for Miami, contributing to their effort despite the loss.

For the Golden Bears, this victory highlights their recent momentum as they improve their ACC record and continue their climb in the standings. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes remain winless in conference play and will look to break their losing streak in their next outing.

California will travel to SMU on Wednesday, aiming to extend their winning streak to four games. Miami will host Virginia, seeking their first ACC win of the season.

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